LONDON:
COLBURN AND CO., PUBLISHERS,
GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET.

1853.

LONDON:
Printed by Schulze and Co., 13, Poland Street.

CONTENTS

OF

THE SECOND VOLUME.

CHAPTER I.

Fabulous account of the bear — Degeneracy of the

Russians, and courage of the natives—Bear-hunting-

Superstitious veneration of the bear—White bears—

Ceremonial observance of a husband's death—Winter

aspect of Berezov—Ostiak costume—Probability of

early communication between Siberia and North

America · ·

1

CHAPTER II.

Refusal of marriage at church—Purchase of wives—

Figure of Shaitan and his worship-Priesthood of

Shamanism—Their influence, juggleries, and sooth-

saying— Treatment of women in child-bed-Funeral

389598

and laments Pictures in the church—A black thief

-Integrity of the natives—Cattle in search of pas-

ture—Artificial system of breeding-Instinct of a

. . . . 19

COW

CHAPTER III.

A dream of home-Murder of a wife by her husband-

Barbarous notions of matrimony--An Ostiak cradle

–Zarutchaï cemetery at night-Walk through an

underwood— The ideal and the every-day world. 47

CHAPTER IV.

Herds of reindeer—Capture of a horse—Scarcity of

water — Novel employment for dogs — Freezing of

rivers—Excursion in sledges—Wave-like surface of

the ice-An encounter . . . . 62

CHAPTER V.

Drive in a narta—Peculiarities and use of the reindeer-

Their pasture—Their herds in the Ural—Use of their

skins and flesh—Their swiftness and powers of en-

durance—Manner of travelling in Siberia—Fish-skin

and mica-slate windows — Fuel – Tremulous state

of the atmosphere—Three hours of daylight—No

clock in town—Manner of notifying the hours—Tale-

telling party—Two Ostiak tales—The Hunters-Old

Friend's Reindeer . . . . 73

CHAPTER VI.

The Arctic region north of Berezov-Obdorsk fair-

Zirani — Fur-tax-Perfidy of Russian merchants-

Division of the native population of Watahy—Chiefs

of the tribes—The Prince of Obdorsk-Catherine II.

-The Prince's threat to burn Tobolsk — Assault

on him - Curious trial — Integrity of the native

races . . . . . . 117

CHAPTER VII.

Christmas--Masquerades—Visit from a party of masks

- Custom of preserving wedding-clothes—New Year's

Eve-Superstitions—Professor Kalmikow's delusion

-Fiendish pranks—Phantasmagoria . . 132

CHAPTER VIII.

New Year's Day-Letters from home-Evening party

- Various games and songs — Judge Slobodzki —

Expelling the devils—The town in alarm-Arrival of

a Polish physician–Fair at Berezov-Fur trade-

Berezovian foxes—A walk in a severe frost . 151

CHAPTER IX.

Matrimonial alliance—Twelfth Night or the Maslanca

féte—Regulations restricting the sale of spirits—Visit

from an exiled Tartar Khan-His dress and orders-